Brian O'Driscoll admits he's ready to enjoy the freedom of life after rugby - but will remain a competitive animal even off the rugby pitch.

Former Leinster and Ireland superstar O'Driscoll has caused a stir just days into his retirement by joining Newstalk's Off The Ball programme as a sports presenter and he'll begin his new job in Septmber.

"It's good to be back part of a team again," joked O'Driscoll.

"Two days can do that to you. When you've had 15 years of it you start panicking after a couple of days of retirement and being on your own.

"My family team wasn't quite enough so I had to find a new one!".

O'Driscoll, 35, revealed in an interview with Off The Ball tonight that he was disappointment his retirement happened just eight and a half minutes into his last game, last Saturday's Pro 12 final.

But he can't wait for life after rugby, in particular being able to go skiing for the first time and attending weddings in the summer.

Asked what he was looking forward to, the Dubliner replied: "I think having my own schedule.

"That was a little bit of a frustration in the last few years when you have other things going on and it's very difficult to plan anything in advance. That was a real painful aspect of it.

"I'm looking forward to going skiing later in the winter. I've never skied before, but now I'm able to book things months in advance and say I'll be there.

"Even things like a couple of weddings in the summer - Geordan Murphy is getting married in July, being able to go that, a pal of mine is getting married in Spain in a few weeks' time, those little things will be cool to be able to go to because I've missed a few of them."

Brian O'Driscoll with Leo Cullen

O'Driscoll laughed when asked if he would contemplate following in ex-Connacht full-back Gavin Duffy's footsteps, who is in line to play for the Mayo footballers this summer.

"Absolutely not a chance, you will not see...I think I will miss the exercise feeling and endorphin release from exercising well," he said.

"I think I'll really struggle to push myself very hard, but I can see myself playing a bit of 5-a-side and a bit of Squash, but I don't see myself smashing the roads, doing 10ks.

"I got myself my bike so maybe I'll get out on the road but it's all for keeping myself in reasonable shape rather than because I'm an exercise junkie."

But he doesn't believe his competitive nature will ever desert him for good.

"It'll come back. If you're born round, you don't die square," he reflected.

"It's innately part of you and I imagine just because I'm retiring as a professional after 15 years, that doesn't mean it's going to vanish.

"I'd like to still win, whether that's Golf or Squash you make sure to pick partners who are massively inferior to you to make sure you win!"